Queen Camilla's makeup blunder has happened to the best of us – here's how to avoid it

Queen Camilla channelled Princess Kate on Friday, attending the Badminton Horse Trials in a sharp navy suit – and didn't she look wonderful?

Her Majesty emulated Princess Kate in another way too, going heavier on her eye makeup than usual, and while the Princess of Wales is a pro when it comes to her trademark eyeliner, Queen Camilla isn't used to wearing more makeup on her eyes, and came a cropper with the look.

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Queen Camilla's eye makeup error

Eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed that King Charles' wife's mascara had migrated south, smudging under her eye – a makeup mishap that happens to the best of us, even when we've tried our best to ensure our mascara is immaculate.

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Coincidentally, I attended a makeup masterclass on Tuesday at Charlotte Tilbury's Covent Garden boutique (they actually call it a boudoir) and learned exactly how to avoid Queen Camilla's mishap. (Another coincidence is that Queen Camilla met with beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury back in May 2024, at the very event she's at today, the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire).

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Queen Camille and Charlotte Tilbury met once again last week at a gala in New York – we wonder if Her Majesty was given any beauty tips or makeup that evening? Anyway, I digress.

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Avoiding mascara mistakes

During our Charlotte Tilbury masterclass, held by makeup artist Georgia Gill, we were let in on an industry secret to avoid mascara debris under our eyes. "Rather than applying mascara to the tips of your lashes, apply it at the root and in the middle," Georgia advised. "Applying it on the tips is what causes flakes to cascade off and sit under your eyes."

She also explained what to do if, like Queen Camilla, you do end up with a blob of mascara under your eyes. "Whatever you do, do not touch that blob until it's dry. Once it's dry, you'll be able to flick it off, but if you try to move it when it's wet, it'll set and smudge and you'll be left with it there." Noted.

One more tip for the road? Georgia told us that if Charlotte ever makes a mess while applying eye makeup, a cotton bud dipped in moisturiser and wiped under the eye will make light work of removing any misapplied makeup.

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Queen Camilla's makeup

While we're sure Charlotte Tilbury would love to work with Queen Camilla, the royal is loyal to her makeup artist, Marina Sandoval, with whom she has been working for over 15 years, after they first met when Marina was tending to the royal's nails.

Of Her Majesty's beauty look, the makeup pro told Harper's Bazaar: "I always opt for a light, natural colour as a foundation, and tinted moisturiser is preferred depending on the season.

Marina did Queen Camilla's makeup for her 2022 Coronation, revealing that look was all about the eyes, explaining: "I very much wanted to make her beautiful blue eyes stand out, so I used a very black liquid eyeliner and a very black mascara."